City Council adopts 2025 Advisory Board of Health work plan; board to focus on mental health and youth cannabis policies

The Bloomington City Council unanimously adopted the 2025 work plan from the Advisory Board of Health on April 28.

Public Health Administrator Dr. Nick Kelly and Advisory Board Chair Annabelle Kornblum presented the board's annual review and the calendar of topics for 2025. Kornblum said the board intends to make more recommendations on mental health and well-being and to evaluate what the board can do within its city-level statutory authority. "Part of what we're doing is trying to understand what we can do to influence that and make some of those changes given our role and statutory authority on a city end," Kornblum said.

The board's 2025 calendar includes topics by month: environmental health updates, housing, mental health and peer-support systems, community resource team updates, accessibility and emergency preparedness, and a joint meeting with Edina and Richfield focused on mental health in May. Council members asked how the board's recommendations will reach council and what measurable outcomes the board expects; Kornblum said the board wants to make more actionable recommendations and engage more with staff and partners.

Council members raised specific areas for the board to consider, including indoor air-quality programs tied to the city's sustainability work, insurance accessibility for Bloomington employers, and contingency planning given the department's reliance on grant funding. Dr. Kelly said about 70% of the public health division's budget is contracts and grants with approximately 25% federally funded and emphasized coordination with finance and the city manager's office to manage risk.

Council member Carter moved to adopt the work plan; the motion carried 7-0.

The board will return to council with its reports and recommendations through the year as items mature.